This is an article that presents overcoming the odds and recognising that with the beauty of each rose exists painful thorns.... Time to recognise this and move on!

1. What time is it?
Do you spend time thinking?...justthinkingaboutyour time?Like,"Where hasthe time gone?”
Have you usedyourtime wisely?Have youconsideredhow youused,use andintendtouse
your time inthe future?Who did/doyoushare your precious time with?Whatdo youdo with
negative experiencesotherthanrecycle them?If some of yourthoughtsabout time reflectnegative
experiencesthathave occurredinyourlifetime,remember,youare still here!Youhave survived,
youare a survivor, thistime.
Reflection:WhenIwas at primaryschool back inthe early1960's, I was one of around5 or so
familiesof AfricanHeritage- BlackBritish.The dayswere longandthe winters,very,verycold.The
school,ActonWellswaslocatedinNorthWest London....School Road(Iwouldlovetohearfrom
anyone whoattendedthe school atthat time,but wouldalsobe happyif people
that wasted mytime reads thisarticle andreflectedasIhave) I decidedtowrite thisarticle because
there are othersout there thatmay have had similarexperiencesandsituationsthatatthe time,
theyhad nocontrol,yetmemoriesoccasionallycreepintoourconsciousness.....randomreflections
tuggingat our thoughtsdemandingour time andattention.
Back in time:
As the bell peeledindicatingthatitwas lunch time,eagerchildrenheadedtowardsthe canteento
enjoya meal.The headteacher(headmistressatthe time) wouldinstructthatall headsbe bowed
and eyesclosedasshe recitedthe grace,givingthankstoGod for our meal.We wouldthenbe
invitedtable bytable toqueue upandreceive ourmeal- meatandtwoveg,followedbyalovelyhot
pudding...lovely.Thispreparedustoface the bittercoldof the playgroundwhere we wouldhave an
opportunitytoplayuntil the endof the lunchhour.Playingandrunningaroundwithfriendshelped
to fendoff the icychill thatcompetedwiththe gapsleftbetweenmittensandcoatsleeves,
penetratingourlittle limbs.
My lunchhourswere filledwithdreadbecause agroupof prefects- girls,singledme out.A wide
eyedquietblackgirl andmade me stand ina corner forthe remainderof the lunchhour.Those cold
hoursfeltas thoughtheywouldneverend.The chill managedtopenetratemycoat,glovesandin
particularthe jointsin myhands whichachedbitterly.Whydoesthismatternow?Itcouldbe the
painsthat I nowsufferinthose same joints...maybe initiatedbythose manyafternoonsmotionless
ina cornerof a coldplayground.
Whenthe bell rangto usherchildrenbackintothe warm invitingcomfortof the school andthe large
hot metal radiatorsthatradiatedsafety,Iknew thatI wouldbe warm andpreparedmyself toenjoy
learning...untilthe nextlunch time andthe same experience.
Why didn'tthe teachersnotice the little blackgirl inthe cornerdayafterday? What wasthe purpose
of the spiteful girls?Were theyevilorwere the conversationsatthe dinnertable athome aboutthe

2. numberof 'darkies'that were movingintothe arealicence fortheiroffspringtoinflictsome sortof
justice?Wasthisignorance?Racism?Micro-aggression?Abuse?Whydidn'tthe little blackgirl feel
that she couldcomplainandgetjustice at that time?Well,the time isnow because if notnow,
when?!
My previousarticle wasentitled'Recycle', because noexperience iseverwasted.Ineedthe
individuals;probablyintheir60's nowthat bulliedthatlittle girl andthe teachersthatpermitteditto
happen;thatlittle blackgirl thatwas keptina corner wasbestowedthe honourof an MBE at
BuckinghamPalace.Also,despite the painsinherfingerswhichinitiatedthisarticle,itbears
testamenttoothers,thatthese same fingerstype messagesof hope tothe masses.Ibecame a
publishedauthorinJuly2016....Iam a successful 'transformingLife Coach,educationalistand
mentor....andstill Irise.I,like manyhave sufferedatthe handsof oppressorsinmanyguisesbutI
have alsoenjoyedarange of wonderful timesandexperienceswithsome beautiful people,too
numeroustomention.Maybe,Isharedmyprecious time withyou!I hope that myarticleshelpto
supportothersto challenge anddispeldarktimesthatmaybattle withthe mind.Theycannotlast
for ever...onlyforatime!
I dedicate thisarticle toreadersthathave memoriesorthatmay be experiencinginjustice rightnow
inthe formof physical,emotional,mental andpsychological abuse - infamilies,relationships,work
colleagues,housingissues,ill-health.....Youare here.Youmade itthroughagainstthe odds....and
still yourise!!!
Withoutthe painful thornsthatare characteristicsof the bush,youcan neveradmire the beautiful
roses.
So, what time isit?
It istime to treasure yourmoments,because theybelongtoyou.Nochallenge issufficienttostunt
your growth.Identifythe rootcause of anysituation,reflectonthe greenshootsof hope that
confirmthat all will be well withyou.Considerthe wonderful fruitthatblossomandremindyouthat
youare still here. The time is now!
Dr AngelaHerbertMBE; MSc Ed Man. FiFL